Archive for the ‘sabine lisicki’ Category

Mikhail Youzhny’s last ATP singles title was in 2008 in Chennai. I don’t even remember that. But he’s back to winning ways, beating maiden ATP finalist Janko Tipsarevic 67(5) 60 64 for the Kremlin Cup. It’s the sixth straight year that it’s been won by a Russian. At this point I will try not to say anything about British tennis.

And the fourth final ended with a first-time winner, Timea Bacsinszky, who defeated Sabine Lisicki 62 75 for the Luxembourg title.

Obviously I was rooting for Licky, but I thought Bacsinszky played a very solid match. She backed up her great performance against Wickmayer in convincing style and completely outplayed an out-of-sorts Lisicki. Well done.

Sadly, Lisicki’s loss means she won’t qualify for Bali (that other year-ending championships), with Aravane Rezai taking the final spot. Hopefully she’ll knock up a fetching number for the occasion.

Busy day of semi-finals today and at the end of all things we have four finals set for tomorrow.

How about that Olga Govortsova? Under the radar, she’s been having an incredible tournament, taking out Martinez Sanchez, Dushevina and now Alisa Kleybanova 62 61 to make her first final of the year. She’ll face Francesca Schiavone, who beat Alona Bondarenko to make her third final of the year. The Italian will be heavily favoured to win, so expect a crushing Govortsova victory.

Tipsy vs. Mischa on the men’s side, as they beat a pair of qualifiers easily to make the final. Good opportunity for Youzhny to pick up his first title of the year (may not be true, but I can’t face tackling the ATP website to check).

Another great win for Olivier Rochus. The pocket-sized Belgian beat Thomaz Bellucci 63 in the third to reach the final, where he’ll meet Marcos Baghdatis after Robin Soderling was forced to withdraw with the same elbow injury he’s been struggling with ever since Wimbledon or thereabouts.

Sad face. Get well soon, Robin.

Luxembourg offered a pair of high-quality three-setters in the semis, but at the end Timea Bacszinsky and Sabine Lisicki defeated Yanina Wickmayer and Shahar Peer respectively to make the final.

Licky gets two pictures because she’s pretty and I *really* want her to win tomorrow.

Things stay interesting at the Kremlin Cup, as Agnieszka Radwanska – one of the three contenders for the final spot at the Year-End Championships – lost in straight sets to Maria Kirilenko. The contest is now between Zvonareva and Jankovic.

Behold the hitherto-thought-to-be-impossible: an unflattering photo of Maria Kirilenko.

I actually watched some of this one, and although Radwanska was plainly not at her best, it was a very impressive match from Kirilenko – quite reminiscent of their match at the US Open, which ended the same way. I don’t know what’s happened to Kirilenko recently (apart from divesting fifteen pounds of unnecessary material along with the Stella McCartney gig), but she seems to be doing a good job at least intermittently of forcing herself to be aggressive and hit with purpose. And she’s great to watch when she does that.

There’s hope for Radwanska though, as she’s the top contender for an alternate spot. And let’s face it, alternates are going to be needed. Her position was strengthened by Flavia Pennetta retiring a set up but 03 down against Agnes Szavay with a left leg injury. Flavia needs to rest up, there’s that whole Fed Cup final coming up … And fifth seed Nadia Petrova lost to Alona Bondarenko in straights.

Licky is blogging from Luxembourg for the WTA this week and, thankfully, managed to win her first match against Polona Hercog today. Hercog beat Kleybanova in the first round at Roland Garros this year and I was actually fairly impressed with her game, but needless to say I was more impressed with my girl Licky. Unfortunately she has the winner of Clijsters-Schnyder next, so … yeah.

Elsewhere, fourth seed Daniela Hantuchova rolled over Tatjana Malek with quite frightening ease and fifth seed Wicky picked up a win over Alexandra Dulgheru. And Flippy Flipper Flipkens pulled off the surprise of the day, putting out Anabel Medina Garrigues in straights. Nice for the home crowd. Wait … where’s Luxembourg?

If they would just hold the damn thing in a part of the world that’s in a civilised timezone, it would be the best tournament ever. Because get this: in addition to Hewitt and Stosur for Australia and Andreev and Dementieva for Russia, Romania will be represented in the 2010 Hopman Cup by Sorana Cirstea and Victor Hanescu, while Sabine Lisicki will be returning and this time accompanied by Philipp Kohlschreiber. I also seem to have missed the news that Melanie Oudin and John Isner will be representing for the U.S.A.

I am completely stoked about this. In case you’ve missed the memo, my love for Licky is rapidly reaching Momo proportions (and when will she play Hopman Cup with Kuznetsova and win the whole damn thing for Eurasia, eh?). And I’m anything but unfond of Sorana and Melanie Oudin as well. There’s a little less wattage for me on the male side, but they’re all fun players capable of great tennis. And there are three more teams to be confirmed. Can’t wait!

Maybe it’s the time of year or maybe it’s the time of woman, but top seeds continue to fall in Tokyo like nobody’s business. Third seed Elena Dementieva lost to qualifier Kateryna Bondarenko, 62 67(3) 61. I have no idea what’s up with Demmy, but that’s a good win for Bondarenko, putting together a little something after her great run to the U.S. Open quarters. Like it.

Fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki, usually Miss Consistency, retired 50 down to Aleksandra Wozniak with ‘viral illness’. I hope she’s OK, but after all the tennis she’s played this year it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise if she was a little run down.

And sixth seed Vera Zvonareva went down to Alisa Kleybanova. I saw the first set in a somewhat drunken fashion and assumed Vera would win easily, but somehow she ended up on the wrong end of a 36 64 62 score.

At the very same moment that JJ was going down in a third-set tiebreak, Sabine Lisicki was losing to Anastasia Rodionova, 63 36 75.

The only photo of this event, apparently.

Licky played an abysmal first set where she could barely get a first serve in or find the court, and then promptly went down 3-0 in the second. Then she found some composure, picked up her serve a bit, and started finding her shots, taking the second set fairly easily and serving for the match at 5-3 in the third. Then she … well, imploded. Painfully.

It got worse; scrambling to save match point, Licky went over and hit the court screaming in pain. She couldn’t get up and it looked to be an ankle injury. Cue tears, anxiety and her eventually being wheelchaired off. It put the loss in perspective though. I just want her to be healthy! (And, sssh, winning, but mainly healthy).

Anyway, all credit to Rodionova, who I’ve not seen before. She’s a very feisty player with big shots who hung in there and earned her victory.

Oh yeah, and my two biggest favourites on the WTA side are gone in JJ and Licky. My only hopes for happiness in the next few rounds are Sorana Cirstea and Victoria Azarenka. Who have Wozniacki and Li Na next.

Have to take a moment before I crash to give some love to a few of my favourites on the WTA side who won today.

Sorana Cirstea demolished Ayumi Morita of Japan in straight sets and looked fairly good doing it, in all senses.

Licky had a tough ask against Aravane Rezai, especially considering she’s been out with a shoulder injury, but came through in three sets in a match that was one of my favourites from today. Beautiful ball-striking.

Tough loss for Rezai, but there was some real warmth at the net and Licky bowed to the crowd in a frankly adorable fashion.

Oh, and JJ got some revenge on Roberta Vinci who nearly beat her in Marbella, rolling through in straights. Sadly the design lives, but thankfully the yellow has died.